Ommm -> Meditation at Work
The workplace is a novel and
complex environment and our brains love it.
Except - when we are too stressed out to think clearly. Corporations spend 60% of their after tax
profits on healthcare for their employees.
This is a direct result of workplace stress. Stress causes havoc within our bodies and
brains. It can be directly responsible
for high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, lower immune function, and
psychological disorders. The leading
causes of workplace stress include:
·
Low salaries
·
Heavy workload
·
Lack of opportunities
·
Uncertain job expectations
·
Long hours (Francis,C.
2013)
The impact on the bottom line
comes down to these assumptions:
·
Stressed out employees generally are less
productive.
·
Stress leads to poor health and greater
healthcare expenditures.
·
There is less cooperation and teamwork leading
to greater inefficiency.
·
More interpersonal conflicts among employees
which is counterproductive.
·
Stress leads to poor communication, which then
leads to inefficiency.
·
Stressed out employees are more preoccupied with
their personal problems than the company’s objectives.
·
Stressed out employees aren’t capable of seeing
the bigger picture (i.e. company goals).
(Francis, C.
2013)
Does this resonate with you? I know I have worked in this type of
environment. It is brutal to go through
day after day with this stress weighing you down. The ultimate result is burnout. No one wins in this environment. If we want to contain healthcare expenditures
we need to live healthier lifestyles by reducing stress levels.
Companies cannot afford to assume
these losses consistently. Wellness
programs are designed to measure physical indicators of chronic disease health
problems. They are able to counsel
employees and put together action plans for a healthy lifestyle. Although wellness programs can save
healthcare dollars there is a problem with employee engagement. These programs can actually turn out to be
another source of stress. Wellness
programs still don’t address the initial cause of workplace chronic disease
because they don’t address the stress component of the workplace. However, when a mindfulness meditation
program is integrated into the workplace culture, there is a chance of reducing
stress levels on an individual basis.
The employee can learn to be resilient in the face of stress. A mindfulness meditation practice has the
ability to:
·
Lower stress
·
Improve immune system function
·
Live a healthier lifestyle
·
Improve cognitive abilities (The Mindfulness
Meditation Institute)
Incorporating mindfulness
meditation training into organizational development strategies will pay off in
numerous ways including employee performance.
Employees practicing mindfulness meditation will have:
·
Increased ability to cope with stress and be
more resilient to workplace pressures
·
Increased ability to focus - a core element of
mindful practice is training for concentration
·
Improved cognitive abilities – think with a clear
mind which can lead to greater complex problem solving and decision-making
capabilities
·
Better communication skills – deep listening and
mindful speech will improve communication
·
Greater systems thinking – employees are able to
understand wider implications of their actions; an understanding that things
are interconnected
·
Improved self confidence – through greater self
awareness employees will discover their true potential
·
More effective leadership – they will become
people with the necessary skills and integrity to take on more responsibility
Meditation
seems like it is the best thing since sliced bread! These outcomes from meditation practice have
been documented in companies like Apple, Yahoo, Google, Texas Instruments,
McKinsey Consulting, Deutsch Bank, and Hughes Aircraft. It is hard to question the effectiveness of
meditation when it has found success in very successful companies. Research is ongoing on meditation but it
continues to validate the outcomes of the practice. With our high intensity environment, speed of
communication and overwhelming amount of information that we are exposed to
everyday, meditation is the perfect practice for brain health.
Pat Faust
Director Corporate Brain Health
Brain Health Center
www.brainhealthctr.com
www.yogameditationwexford.com
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